Noted Businessman To Invest In Mega Farm In St. Catherine

          Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, has disclosed that a group headed by business mogul, Michael Lee-Chin, is investing in a major agricultural project in St. Catherine.

          According to Minister Shaw, the mega farm, to be established on lands formerly occupied by Innswood Sugar Estates, will have mango and soursop orchards, cantaloupes, melons, and short-and long-term crops.

          Delivering the keynote address at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs National Youth in Agriculture Symposium held on February 5 at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville, Manchester, and Mr. Shaw said Mr. Lee-Chin has taken over about 3,000 acres of land, and that Israeli technology would be utilised on the farm.

He called on persons at the function, particularly students, to choose agriculture as a career.

          The Minister said some 10,527 young persons are in farming, representing five per cent of registered farmers, and while it is a “welcome improvement”, the Ministry’s goal is to see more youth “choosing agriculture as a career”.

          Mr. Shaw pointed out that the soon-to-be-completed National Youth in Agriculture Policy and Implementation Plan will seek to build a platform to address issues facing youth in agriculture.

           “We will also develop the right mix of policies and strategies that meet their needs and aspirations, while simultaneously increasing their effective participation in the sector,” the Minister said.

          Held under the theme‘I am Agri-Smart’, the symposium was geared at creating more awareness of opportunities in agriculture, agriculture education, entrepreneurship, and sensitising persons on the impact of Climate Change. It targeted secondary and tertiary students, and youth farmers.

Recent Posts

CVM to Be Exclusive Free-to – Air Broadcasters of JPL

CVM TV will be the official free-to-air broadcaster of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) for…

2 days ago

Man Charged in Danielle Anglin’s abduction and murder Dead

Lascelles Morgan, the accused charged with the abduction and murder of Danelle Anglin, is dead.…

3 days ago

95 shops destroyed in arcade fire

A fire has ravaged the northern section of the Pearnel Charles Arcade in downtown Kingston,…

4 days ago

Committee of Management for Rita Humphries Lewin Withdraws Allegations of Wrongdoing Against Cornerstone

The Committee of Management for Rita Humphries Lewin has officially withdrawn allegations of wrongdoing against…

2 weeks ago

Unidentified Body Found on Lyndhurst Crescent; Police Launch Investigation

St. Andrew, Jamaica – An unidentified body was discovered early this morning on Lyndhurst Crescent,…

2 weeks ago

Holness’ IC Challenge to Be Heard in Supreme Court

The first hearing in Prime Minister Andrew Holness' legal challenge against the Integrity Commission, IC,…

2 weeks ago